i was talking to my mom the other day about how God hand picks your life just for you. with all of its joys and the trials, and in his divine wisdom, he picked me for this life. though i never would have imagined this life in my fairytale vision of how it would be... it is the perfect fit in its own quirky way. happily ever afters don't just happen on their own after true love's kiss. happily ever after is made up of a thousand tiny choices and blessings. blessings we can miss if we're too busy worrying just how to make our ending work out. this life may not be the storybook tales i imagined, but it is so much more rich and wonderful, messy and hectic and beautifully real than i could have dreamed.
i am so grateful that this life was hand picked just for me. in a week from today my amazing husband will have been gone {on deployment} for five months, and my happily ever after involves a lot of skype. but skype is a huge improvement from the days o delay-action phone calls 10+ years ago. we're been able to live more our precious moments with our very own flat stanton. though he's no wider than a macbook, he can fill a room with contagious laugh. though he's on the other side of the world, he encourages me through my daily life. though the days aren't always easy, they are mine and i cherish them as a gift as best i can.
so i guess that's step 1 of my guide to the galaxy... love your hand picked happily ever after.
step 2. focus on the things that bring you joy.
though i can hardly imagine my life before the girls, i know it existed. these beautiful girls have changed my life in more ways than i could have imagined. they have taught me to love like i've never loved. they have made me grow up, yet stay young at heart. they bring me constant joy.
step 3. remember God's promises
...and surely, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. matt. 28.20
...and surely, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. matt. 28.20
step 4. laugh with life, even when it laughs at you
what i said, "torrey, will you please put the vacuum away."
what i ought to have said, "torrey, please UNPLUG the vacuum cleaner, wind up the cord and put the vacuum in the close.
it totally reminded me of the bill cosby sketch talking about giving his kids instructions before bed. ah, the hilarious truth that is real life!
step 5. make time for simple pleasures.
as a mad scrapbooking hobbyist, i am lucky enough to relive my memories on film and on paper. making the time to create in a way that adds so much richness to life is a blessing indeed. i get a chance to dwell on my hand picked happily ever after, and to be thankful for each step along the way.
(this page was for an article over at the scrap review... check out my full review and a few other layouts here.)
step 6-10. love
